SLAVES TO FASHION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 51, 23 November 1907, Page 11

SLAVES TO FASHION.

Women arc certainly greater slaves to fashion than men,-at- any rato as regards dress; grumbles a man, or they would not put up more or. less- cheerfully .with, the many inconveniences of a-woman's dress of the present day. What mere -man, for" instance/ would tolerate -the-nuisance of possessing not a singlo pocket, of a blouse or bodice fastening up the back (generally by means of dolls', hooks.and'eyes), which can only bo fastened with, violent gymnastic contortions on the part of. the wearer, or by.invoking the aid of some charitably-disposed person'; the snort slcovcs, which, ovon when gloves are.removed, exposo bare,.and not always pretty arms, and which, arc impossible to get-a coat:over-with comfort, to say nothing :of the perpetually recurring long skirt, .'which either drags in mud and dust, or has to' bo hold up at great inconvenience by a -tired arm?'' There are many other inconveniences,,such as thc-'muk tiplicity of garments, and tho absurd fastenwhich - require much time and. pationce to- do up, the fly-away hats in our windv climate—in Fact, a thousand and one worries in -women s dress which seek for. reform. The wealthy women who recline iii motors or carriages, who need, never'carry a-parcel, clinlb thps.tairs.of a bus, or go out.at all on a bad day. For the work-a-day woman of' moderate means, • fashionablo clothes afo utterly unsuitable . and; inconvenient, yet as regards' the -. fashion .of her: dress - tho -.latter always copies the former.. : Perhaps.it isthefault of tho men, who like, to see .their womenfolk fashionably attired. If .this is so, tho hope of any.reform in this-direction, seems rather hopeless.